Thursday, October 18, 2012

ICC fighting war against corruption, claims CEO

Johannesburg,: International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive David Richardson has said the governing body is fighting a war to eliminate corruption from the game, which also includes educating groundsmen, players and officials. “It is a war we are fighting. Our anti-corruption unit have their work cut out to make sure players are kept away from temptation,” Sports24 quoted Richardson, as saying.

“It”s everybody now, unfortunately. Everybody is susceptible – curators, groundsmen – our corruption unit is very aware of what it needs to do,” he added.

Six umpires were provisionally suspended last week after an Indian TV sting alleged they were open to bribery, while five Indian cricketers were also suspended during this year”s Indian Premier League over allegations no-balls could be arranged to order.

Other tournaments including Twenty20 leagues in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have also been tainted by scandal.

The Champions Trophy, which pitches the top eight one-day nations together, is being scrapped to make way in the international calendar for a new World Test Championship from 2017.

“This tournament is part of the current rights cycle, as we call it,” Richardson said.

“Somewhere in the middle the strategy was changed as far as ICC events are concerned. We have three vibrant formats of the game and it makes sense to hold one major event for each format,” he added.

“The World Cup is the pinnacle 50-over event so the Champions Trophy is the one to go. In 2017 there will be a World Test Championship which will be the first time we have had a Test event on a global scale,” he said.